Best lighting desk for around £200

chamsys dongle and laptop?

http://chamsys.co.uk/magicdmx

chamsys magic q & dongle is a one stop solution.. you use their dongle with their software (downloadable off site)
http://chamsys.co.uk/download

this licence gives you access to running the software on pc but you can only trigger shows/elements via pc controls.

if you want a control surface, those cost considerable money, enough that they dont advertise it on site:
http://chamsys.co.uk/pcwingcompact

their concept is also available as a dedicated 1 box controller:
http://chamsys.co.uk/mq100expert


...if you want hardware faders, and just need to control some rudimentry scenes/sequences say for a bunch of parcans and not tons of intelligent heads, then a small dmx console like behringers eurolite might be a fair bet.
http://www.gak.co.uk/en/behringer-lc2412-eurolight/952?gclid=CKzkpYLH7rYCFcNQ3godgHYAQQ

horses for courses, depends on your lighting needs/expectations :)


on the otherhand.. if the budget has allowed for purchase/hire of professional heads which can easily cost thousands (or stratopherically more) each, then expect that the control hardware required to run them comfortably to cost abit.. all out concert lighting gets so expensive, it makes the pa side of things look like the cheap part of the investment ;) its definately a key part of the equation and shouldnt be skimped on.

in anycase learning on a simple controller with some basic cheap lighting is going to be a great way to learn the rudimentry stuff whilst planning for fancier things in the future as needed :)



Edited by nineleaves - 29 April 2013 at 1:02am

...would you consider this a contender nineleaves?

If you want to do 'proper' lighting, get a proper lighting desk, or at least some software that behaves like one.
You will learn how to do it 'right' and many of the skills are semi transferable between the big common manufacturers.
I've never understood the mindset of controlling thousands of pounds worth of moving heads on a £200 disco controller.
An Avo Azure can be had for under £1k these days and is a capable little desk.
Or even an old Masterpiece if you can spend the time getting to know it.
Something with physical buttons and faders is a big bonus too, clicking stuff on a screen is a really nasty way to interact with a lighting rig.

in keeping it simple, just follow nortys advice.. he really does know what hes doing ;) :)

any touchscreen thatll work with your pc in the first place will do :)
(im not aware of any exceptions here, elo just make decent ones)